What I'm Watching

Because I have the patience of a toddler, I can generally only binge watch shows. I also have a problem with not knowing what happened on something so binge watching allows me to find out quickly (I will never turn down a spoiler alert).

Here are a few things I have been binge watching lately (when I should have been out socializing...but that's neither here nor there).

First and foremost, my love for Aziz knows no bounds. Not only are we both Carolinians (him being from the lesser of the two Carolinas) but we are the same height! Hello! That's a recipe for friendship if I have ever heard one.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into Master of None but I was pleasantly surprised at how real it was. The show covers issues like race, dating, parenting, family and even working in entertainment. After binge watching the show over the course of a Friday night/Saturday morning, I have zero complains. The show is set in NYC but the city isn't a secondary character like in so many other shows based there. It was funny, it was light, but again, it was real. I can't wait to see what a second season will bring. Fun fact: Aziz actually uses his REAL parents in the show! His dad is HILARIOUS.

Admittedly, I never really thought to watch Jane The Virgin because of the title. I knew that it was a whole "immaculate conception" type scenario but didn't really take it seriously. When a friend told me that it was actually a great show, I decided to give it a shot. When I finished watching Master of None, I blew through the first season of Jane The Virgin on Netflix. Then I blew through Season 2 (what has already aired at least) on Hulu. Holy hell, am I now obsessed. It's cute, fun, and surprisingly wholesome. The show is set in Miami and set up like a telenovela. There is boy drama, family drama, drug lord drama, and a ton of laughs. I think my favorite character has to be Jane's telenovela star Rogelio, who produces some of the best lines of the show and loves to talk in hashtags. He also consistently name drops his celebrity friends and even gets in a fight with Britney Spears in the latest episode. I think Jane The Virgin is a show that anyone could watch and enjoy. "#Family #Love #Flove" (actual Rogelio quote)

This Is Life With Lisa Ling is currently streaming on Netflix and IT RULES. It's perfect for anyone who is a fan of documentaries/investigative journalism. Within the first three episodes, she has already covered the new oil boom in North Dakota, traveling strippers, and the secret addiction problems in the LDS church. Hello! This is the stuff of greatness right here. The show is documentary style and Lisa does so many great interviews. There is one scene where she is in a diner with an addict who was formerly LDS and it is the most heartbreaking thing. You can tell Lisa is truly passionate about the work she is doing. I can't wait to keep watching! Next up: an episode about sugar daddies!

Chase Crawford with a southern accent? SIGN ME UP! I have only watched a few episodes and while the drama escalated a little too quickly for my liking, I can't stop watching. Blood & Oil is based on the oil boom in North Dakota which is why I got excited about the This Is Life episode regarding the topic. To be honest, I didn't even know it was really a thing until I saw the This Is Life episode. Regardless, Blood & Oil has a great cast that also includes my favorite Hart of Dixie cast member, Wilson Bethel. The show might not be for everyone but it's worth watching an episode or two to feel it out.

Sure, we’ve all seen those psychic hotline infomercials in the middle of the night or the little shacks downtown with neon palm reading signs. However, Alex Saar is neither of those. Renowned evidential medium, public speaker, and spiritual teacher, Alex started setting spirit at the age of 8, while going through the traumatic experience of the death of her Nana, who raised her.

I fancy myself a bit of a wine expert… if you count frequent usage of the “When Wine” app, only purchasing bottles $10 or less, and having been to Napa Valley once. So of course, I jumped at the chance to attend an exclusive wine pairing dinner at so•ca with Patricio Santos, winemaker at Ricardo Santos Vineyards in Argentina. Finally, a chance to rub elbows with likeminded, vino knowledgeable peers!

Want to add a little more intensity to your fitness routine? Look no further than FlowCORPS. Now open in Downtown Raleigh, this workout will test your limits and have you leaving dripping sweat. A mixture of cardio intervals and pilates, this workout takes your mom’s XFormer workout to another level.

Since relocating back to Raleigh, Whiskey Kitchen has been one of my go-to spots. Whether if it's entertaining a friend visiting from out of town, a client meeting, or just a quick drink, I know that the food, drinks, and staff will always be wondering. When I heard that Whiskey Kitchen's quarterly Supper Club was coming up, I jumped at the chance to go.

I am an absolute sucker for beauty products and when you add in the fact that they are ‘clean’, well... let’s just say my accountant wouldn’t be stoked on how much money I spend. When I heard a new clean beauty store was coming to my hood, I ran over there as fast as I could.

I grew up just a few miles down the road from Spring Lake and admittedly, I never spent much time there. I saw Spring Lake the same way I saw my own hometown, a small, tight-knit company with nothing to do. After working closely with my friends over at the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, I learned that I couldn't have been more wrong. Ready to explore the area, myself and a few other bloggers set out on an outdoor adventure in Spring Lake!

Topsail Island -- 26 miles of quiet sandy beaches, pirate lore, WWII history, sea turtle rehabilitation, and... James Beard Award Winning, farm to table food? You heard right. After having a vacation home on Topsail Island for over 20 years, I've loved watching this tiny little island transform. While I hadn't visited in nearly 10 years (college and my move to LA are to blame), I have made it a priority to get to know this almost new to me island top to bottom. That's where The Bistro at Topsail comes into play.

With almost any weight loss or exercise program, there is generally a disclaimer to check with your doctor before beginning — but I honestly don’t know anyone who ever has. On my never-ending journey to be the healthiest person around, I decided to actually check in with my doctor about my current weight loss (and lack thereof) situation.

With an insane work schedule and workout plan, I heavily rely on shakes to make sure that I get in all of the nutrients I need when I don't have time for a full meal. I've spent years trying to change up my "bro-shake" game which means a lot of trial and error. Honestly, I had pretty much written off shakes until I discovered the glory that is Blender Bombs.